Like Ben? He had an idea Ben was unique. He might be slow and have to work his way through the complexity of the human condition and the world around him, but that was not really a handicap in Joe’s eyes. The world ran too fast, judgments were too quickly made, treasures too often lost.
And Ben would hold on to a treasure with all his strength as he was doing with his friendship for Danner. Even when his conscience was being tormented about the danger to Eve, he was still going to make sure no harm came to Ted Danner.
And could Joe keep his promise to Ben about not hurting Danner? He had hedged it, made conditions, but the promise had still been made. He had tied his own hands until he could get Eve free. A fine balance.
All right, accept it. Who knew what would go down when he caught up with Danner? The only thing certain was that Eve would live, Eve would be free.
“You found out what you wanted to know?” Father Barnabas had come to stand beside him at the entry of the tent.
Joe nodded. “I will soon. Ben’s going to take me to the place where Danner used to camp.” He gave the priest a sardonic look. “And I didn’t even have to use a rubber hose on him.”
“I’m a better judge of character than that,” Father Barnabas said quietly. “Under certain circumstances, I’m sure you could be brutal, but not to a boy like Ben.” He turned away. “I’m coming with you. Don’t argue.”
“The hell I won’t argue. This is the end of the line for you. I don’t trust you. If we’re getting close to Danner, I’m not going to have to risk looking over my shoulder every minute.”
“That’s your problem. I’m either going with you or following behind. Make up your mind.”
“I could put you out and there wouldn’t be a decision.”
“But you’d hesitate to do that. Because there’s a part of you that believes that I’m what I seem on the surface and not one of Danner’s demons.”
The priest was right, Joe realized in frustration. His time with Father Barnabas had allowed a strange, complex relationship to develop between them. He alternated between liking and believing him and a distrust that was probably what he should be feeling.
Father Barnabas’s gaze was on Joe’s face. He nodded. “I’ll get my sleeping bag from the car.”
“Sleeping bag? You came prepared.”
He smiled. “I’m the urban type. I don’t like sleeping on the cold ground. I might even let you and Ben take a turn using it.”
“I’m sure you’d consider that your duty,” Joe said dryly.
“Not necessarily. It might be my duty to strengthen your physical stamina or to strip you of all creature comforts to give you both time to contemplate your sins.” He grinned. “I have choices.”
* * *
STOP. REST. SLEEP
Those words had been repeating in Gallo’s mind for the last two hours. He had to ignore them. He had to keep going.
Stop. Rest. Sleep.
Crazy.
Perhaps it was just his body telling him that it was best to take a break.
“We can stop for a while and get our breath.” Gallo looked up at Catherine from where he was kneeling by the side of the path. “Danner stopped here and took another break. That’s the third in the last seven hours. He’s letting Eve rest.”
“Maybe he’s letting himself rest,” Catherine said. “He’s not a young man any longer, Gallo.”
“He hasn’t changed that much. You saw him at the bayou. He’s still very tough.” He leaned back against a pine tree. “We’re making good time, and he’s losing it with every stop. I figure we’ll be almost on top of him in about five hours.”
“Then we should keep on going. I don’t need to rest.”
No, Catherine would never admit to a lack of strength and endurance, he thought. Hell, maybe it wasn’t a matter of pride. She did have amazing staying power. Everything about her was amazing.
Stop. Rest. Sleep.
“It’s been over twenty-four hours. We have to be at the top of our game when we overtake them. Rest,” he said. “Forty-five minutes. If you can nap, do it.”
She shook her head. “I can’t sleep. I’m wired.” She sank down beside him before taking out her iPhone and checking the apps. “These last hours we’ve traveled right in line with the coordinates Joe gave us for that camp. That’s got to be where he’s heading.” She frowned. “No, not exactly in line. We’re a little east. But he might veer back.”
“Or he might not. Stop worrying. We’ll find out when we reach him.”
She was silent. “No, I can see you’re not worrying.”
He opened his eyes. “I’m not stalling so that we’ll lose him, Catherine. We can afford this rest.”
She studied his expression, then settled back against the tree beside him. “I know we can. I know all the rules about conserving strength and all that bull. It’s not a code-red situation. Danner has a destination, and he’s not mistreating Eve yet.” She added through her teeth, “But we’re not there, dammit. And this is Eve.” She drew a deep breath. “Okay, forty-five minutes. Though I’d be a hell of a lot more relaxed going full tilt after Danner. I don’t understand why you don’t feel the same way.”
“I do. I can’t tell you how much I need this to be over.” He closed his eyes again. “But this is the right thing to do, Catherine. I feel it.” And that feeling was tugging, nagging at him with increasing intensity.
Stop. Rest. Sleep.
“Well, I don’t feel it.”
“And you’re so damn tense that you’re about to break apart.”
“I’m not. I wouldn’t—” She suddenly broke off as he pulled her into his arms so that her cheek lay against his shoulder. “What are you doing, Gallo?”
He wasn’t sure. It had been an impulse. “Nothing carnal … I don’t think.” Though his body had responded the minute he had touched her. Block it. This wasn’t the moment.
Something else was coming that was far more important.
And where the hell had that last thought come from?
Stop. Rest. Sleep.
“Relax. I just want to hold you.”
She was still taut and resisting. Then she was suddenly relaxing, her body flowing into his.
That heat and hardening again.
Block it. Not now.
“Why, Gallo?” she muttered.
“I don’t know. I just want to hold you. I want you to be calm and … with me.” His hand was gently stroking her hair. “Your hair smells good.”
“You’re a little crazy, Gallo,” she muttered.
“So I’ve been told.”
“I can’t remember anyone ever wanting to just … hold me.”
“And considering the fact that you’re one totally desirable lady, you may never experience it again.”
She was silent a moment. “This is important to you, isn’t it?”
“It’s important.”
She shrugged. “I don’t understand it, but I guess it’s okay.”
“Even though you believe I’m a bit wacko.”
“People need different things at different times.”
“Close your eyes, Catherine.”
“They are closed.”
And he could feel the muscles of her body relaxing. “Forty-five minutes, Catherine.”
“You already said that.”
But she was quiet now, and his own body was still and no longer needing her. He could feel her strength but no disturbance. That was how it should be. That was how he knew instinctively that it had to be.
He could go on now.…
* * *
IT WAS HOT IN THE DARKNESS and he could smell his own sweat.
He opened his eyes and saw the manacles fastened to the wall and the dirty straw on the stone floor.
His heart jerked in panic.
He knew this place, this cell. Prison. North Korea.